Preschool Chapel Chat Ideas

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The Preschool at our church has a Chapel Chat every Thursday morning.  This is a time where our 3 & 4-year olds come to our Sanctuary and have Chapel time with our pastor. They sing songs & listen to a short message from him. Occasionally, I get to fill in for him when he is out.  I enjoy these talks with our little worshippers.  They are fun and I love interacting with them.

Here are 3 ideas for you to use at your next Chapel Chat with preschoolers or for your next Children’s Sermon at your Sunday morning service.

Words Can’t Go Back In

Theme:  Be kind to each other

Scripture:  Ephesians 4:32

Supplies Needed:  Toothpaste, Paper Towels

Show the tube of toothpaste to the kids.  Ask what we do with it.  Then invite one of them to squirt out some toothpaste onto the paper towel.

Say:  Now that you’ve squirted the toothpaste out, I want you to put it back in the tube.

The child will give you a look like you’re crazy, but encourage the child to try and put it back in.  It may get a little messy so make sure you have extra paper towels on hand.

After the toothpaste fails to go back in, then ask:

Why can’t you put toothpaste back into the tube once you’ve squirted it out?  (It’s not made to do that)

This reminds me of each one of us and how we are not made to be hurtful to others by saying mean words.  Every word that comes out of our mouth, we can’t put back in.  Once it’s spoken, then we can’t take it back.  That’s why it’s so important that we be careful of the words we speak.  We need to make sure that we are saying kind and loving words to our parents, friends, and even our brother or sister.   God did not make us to be mean to others.  He made us to be kind and loving.

In Ephesians 4:32 it says:  “Be kind, one to another; tenderhearted forgiving one another.”

What are some words that we could say that would be kind?  Allow kids to answer.

Let’s remember to use kind words like this every time we speak.  We want to love others by showing them kindness because that is what Jesus wants us to do.

There are going to be days when we say hurtful or mean words to others.  The best thing we can do is ask for forgiveness from God and say we are sorry to the person we hurt.

Today I want you to practice saying kind words to others.  Begin right now by turning to your friend next to you and saying a kind word to them.  Allow them a few seconds to do this. 

Let’s remember we can’t take our words back so we need to make sure we think about what we say before we say it.  God made us to be kind to each other so let’s go out today and be kind to everyone.

Prayer:  Dear God, thank you that we can talk.  Help us to use our words in kind and loving ways every day.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Be Light

Theme:  Be the light of Jesus

Scripture:  Matthew 5:14

Supplies:  Different kinds of lights (lamp, flashlight, candle, lighter, lantern, headlamp, glow sticks, etc), a cup to put over one of the lights

Say:  Today I want to show you something, but before I do that, I need to turn off the lights. Is that ok with you?

Once lights are turned off, go through each type of light source, turning it on and talking about what it is and what you use it for.

Ask:  Why do we need light?  So we can see.

Say:  Without light, we would not be able to see.  It’s hard to do things in the dark.  We need light.

In the book of Matthew, chapter 5, verse 14 it says:  “You are the light of the world.”

When we  have Jesus living inside our hearts, we are like a bright light shining His love.  We are like every one of these light sources lit up.  People can see this light shine out of us by the way we act and by the words we say.  That’s why it’s important to do what is right, be kind, and say nice things.  We want to always shine that light of Jesus to everyone we meet.

In the  next verse in Matthew it goes on to say:  “No one after lighting a lamp puts it under a bushet basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house”.

Do you think it would make sense if I light this candle and then put this cup over it?  Demonstrate this.

What  happens?  That’s right, the light is hidden and eventually goes out.

When we know Jesus and he lives inside our hearts, we shine His light.  We don’t want to hide this light or His love from anyone.  We want everyone to see it.

That’s why it’s important to shine brightly so everyone can see Jesus and feel His love.

Prayer:  Dear God, thank you for giving us light.  Thank you for being light to everyone.  Help us to be a light so others may see you through us.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Close out by singing “This Little Light of Mine.”  

Can a Band-Aid Fix That?

Theme:  Jesus heals our wounds

Scripture:  Psalm 147:3

Supplies:  First Aid Kit filled with band-aids, antibiotic ointment, alcohol wipes, gloves, etc.

Ask:  Who can tell me what this is?     A first aid kit

What do we do with a first aid kit?    We keep items in it that can help us when we get hurt.

Begin pulling out items from the first aid kit and asking the kids what we use each one for. 

Say:  When we get hurt we need items like this to help heal our wounds.

What happens when our feelings get hurt?  Can we use the items in the first aid kit to help heal our feelings?

No, we can’t use these items to help heal our hurt feelings.

But, there is someone more powerful than any of these items that can heal our hurting hearts.  That someone is God.

God knows everything about us.  He knows when we are sad and when our feelings are hurt.  And the coolest thing is that He has the power to heal us.

It says in Psalm 147:3

“He heals the brokenhearted and bandages their wounds.”  

That means that because He loves us so very much, He will heal all the things that make us sad.  We just need to pray and ask God to help heal our hurts.  And not just our boo-boos, but our hearts and the things that make us sad.  Maybe someone said something mean to you or your brother or sister wouldn’t share with you.  Anything that makes you sad, God can heal.

God has the power to heal.  He loves us so much and doesn’t like it when we are hurting. God promises to heal our broken and sad hearts.  We just need to believe in His healing power and ask for His help.  God loves you and wants to heal your wounds and your sadness.

Prayer:  Dear God, thank you for loving us.  Thank you for healing us when we are sad.  Help us to always believe in your healing power.  In Jesus’ name,  Amen.